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Biology, General at University of South Carolina-Columbia

Columbia, SC · Public · Bachelor's Degree

DegreeOutlook Score (Base Case) — assumes in-state tuition

Optimistic

Base Case

Pessimistic

Earnings $28,035/yr (-13% vs median)

AI Risk High (40% exposed)

Job Market Very Large (113,000 openings/yr)

ROI 12.3x earnings multiple (4.5x out-of-state)

Ranked #383 of 822 Biology, General programs Top 50%

How AI Changes the Outlook

Three scenarios based on how aggressively AI disrupts the career paths available to Biology, General graduates.

	Optimistic No Disruption	Base Case Gradual AI	Pessimistic Aggressive AI
10-Year Earnings	$632K	$623K	$565K
Earnings Multiple (In-State)	12.5x	12.3x	11.1x
Earnings Multiple (Out-of-State)	4.5x	4.5x	4.0x
Probability of Field Employment	49%	45%	35%
DegreeOutlook Score	40	39	40

10-Year Earnings Projection

*Year 1 uses actual reported earnings. Scenarios diverge as AI impact compounds over time.

4-Year Tuition, In-State (Sticker)

$50,752

Out-of-state: $139,736 (4.5x ROI)

4-Year Net Price (After Aid)

$98,128

-93% less than sticker · See by income

Median Debt at Graduation

$21,500

9.2 months of Year 1 earnings

Reported Earnings (5 Year)

$60,846

117% growth from Year 1

Program Analysis

At $28,035/yr, Biology, General graduates from University of South Carolina-Columbia land near the $32,219 national average — neither a standout nor a red flag.

Every dollar of in-state tuition returns an estimated 12.3x in decade earnings — an exceptional ratio that places this among the highest-ROI Biology, General programs nationally.

Some AI exposure exists in Biology, General's typical career paths, with 40% of job tasks potentially affected. The pessimistic scenario still projects solid returns, with a 11% gap from the optimistic case.

Median debt of $21,500 represents roughly 9 months of the $28,035 starting salary — a manageable burden by most borrower standards.

At #383 of 822 Biology, General programs, University of South Carolina-Columbia scores above the median — competitive but not a standout.

Five-year earnings of $60,846 show a 117% jump from the $28,035 starting point — strong upward trajectory suggesting real career acceleration.

About University of South Carolina-Columbia

University of South Carolina-Columbia accepts 61% of applicants, balancing access with selectivity, with 28,113 students enrolled in Columbia, SC.

See all programs and financial aid at University of South Carolina-Columbia →

Top Career Paths

Natural sciences managers $161,180/yr

Medical scientists, except epidemiologists $100,590/yr

Biological scientists, all other $93,330/yr

View all 10 career paths with salary ranges and AI risk →

Compare & Explore

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the DegreeOutlook Score for Biology, General at University of South Carolina-Columbia?

A score of 39/100 indicates below-average financial outcomes for Biology, General. Earnings, ROI, or AI risk factors are pulling the score down.

Will AI replace Biology, General careers?

With 40% of typical job tasks exposed to AI, this is one of the higher-risk fields. Our pessimistic scenario projects $564,681 in decade earnings vs $632,153 in the optimistic case — a meaningful gap.

Scores use College Scorecard earnings, BLS employment projections, and AI task-exposure research. See full methodology →